Qatar

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Government: Ruler is Shaykh Khalifa ibn Hamad Al
Thani,
amir since 1972. However, heir apparent, Shaykh Hamad ibn
Khalifa
Al Thani, has taken over much day-to-day decision making.
Government structure based on 1970 provisional
constitution with
Council of Ministers and Advisory Council.

Politics: Power held by amir and royal family.
Political parties banned, and no open opposition
tolerated.

Foreign Relations: Closely allied with Saudi
Arabia on
regional and global issues. Foreign policy efforts
channeled
through Gulf Cooperation Council and other organizations,
such as
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries,
Organization
of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and Organization of
the
Islamic Conference. Member of United Nations and League of
Arab
States.